Showing posts with label demons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label demons. Show all posts

Friday, July 10, 2015

When the Real World Meets the Paranormal Romance World #PNR


Paranormal stories, myths and folklore are often times based on true events, embellished truths or superstitions. These stories have been passed down for centuries. It’s no wonder their themes didn’t wind up in our present romance novels. Does the paranormal romance novel get your heart racing? It does mine. I’ve been reading books on the supernatural since I was a kid and I love them now especially the steamy romance kind.

What types of paranormal romance gets your heart racing and keeps you up reading until the wee hours of the morning??? Shapeshifters, vampires, witches, demons, ghosts??? Or are you like me and love them all?? If you’ve noticed the ‘soup du jour’ in the paranormal romance genre is shapeshifters, mainly bear shifters. As with any trend, they change, (who wants to eat the same soup day after day?) so authors should write what they have a passion for and readers will look for something different when their taste for the soup du jour changes.

Readers and Authors!! Please feel free to share your favorite paranormal romance here, including your own. A tell us what your favorite paranormal theme is. See choices at the end.

Even though paranormal is for the most part made up, I do a lot of research for my books. The Cryptopedia: A Dictionary of the Weird, Strange and Downright Bizarre, The Writer’s Complete Fantasy Reference, Vampire Universe, The Science of Vampires, Vampires: The Occult Truth, and several books on Wicca, ghosts, myths and folklore. I’ve also talked to people about experience or their specialties. Like for His Lost Mate I met and spoke with an archaeologist who had been in the business for over 35 years. I also visited the pyramids in Tikal, Guatemala.

So is it possible for these paranormal themes to cross over into the real world? I can’t say I ever met a real shapeshifter or a demon. As for vampires…I’ve been in contact with a few who believe they are vampires. Ghosts- some believe, some don’t. Do you?? I do! I’ve seen them a couple times, heard them, felt them, smelled them. Just recently I had an experience at a restaurant/bar where I work as a part time bartender/server. It’s a lovely old Victorian house and the owner’s mother owned the restaurant and lived in the house above. Now the daughter runs it and the mother has passed on. It was a quiet night. The other evening, one of the servers went into the back room the check that the tables were set properly. It’s their formal dining area with a little alcove that has a fireplace and a hutch that hold our linens and glassware. No one was there. She said out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone walk in and into the alcove. She thought it was me. When she turned, no one was there.

She came out by the bar and told us about her weird experience, then I noticed the strong scent of vanilla. I asked if she sprayed perfume. She said no. The table of guests seated by the bar also noticed the scent. The owner smiled. I asked if that was a sign of her mom visiting. She didn’t say.

Besides the types of paranormal characters, what about locations and times?
Paranormal stories can take place in present ‘semi-normal’ day settings, future, alternative history, historical, or a time travel setting, a story that takes place on another planet or alternative universe. So many great locals and themes, so little time to write them all!

More crossover reality/paranormal experiences: the archaeologist I spoke with knows of others in his field who had experiences with ghost at excavations sites. I also had an experience while climbing one of the large pyramids in Tikal and had several nightmares after where I saw or imagined slaves or workers climbing the pyramid and building it or working on it, and hearing the screams of someone being sacrificed at the top. It shook me so badly, I froze in the middle of my climb and my friend had to coax me to finish climbing to the top. Maybe it was the heat and my overactive imagination, but it chilled me to the bone.

In my New Release: HIS LOST MATE, there’s a ghost. An ancient ghost of a shaman who claims to be the father of the heroine. He says in her past life, he was unable to protect her, he’s returned because she again is in danger, and so in the archaeology team working with her in the jungle. Lauren (the heroine) along with the Deven (the hero) must solve the supernatural mystery and the real threat, while battling an evil entity before it’s too late. The question is: Will history repeat itself and will the two lovers be lost again forever?


HIS LOST MATE

Available for PreOrder at the discount $2.99. or FREE for Kindle Unlimited. It will be Released on July 21st and revert to its regular price of $3.99. Print copy coming soon!


Don’t forget to share your favorite Paranormal Book here on your post then share on Twitter if you like!

Who’s Your Favorite Paranormal Hero? 
-         -Vampire
-         -Shapeshifter
-         -Demon
-         -Witch/Warlock
-         -Sexy Alien
-         -Ghost
-         -Immortal other than vampire
-         - Other (let me know what sexy creatures get you excited)

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Howls 'n Bites Book Blitz






Fall into the Ever After Series, a paranormal romance box set, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author A.C. James. It’s only available for 99 cents during preorders—Get your copy before the price goes up to $4.99!

Preorder Now:





Cry Wolf Series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sarah Mäkelä, will make you howl for more. Get four incredible books for 99 cents. It won’t stay that way for long. So preorder your copy today!

Preorder Now:



Giveaway
Grand Prize — One $50 Giftcard
5 e-book copies of Breathe by A.C. James (Contemporary Dark Erotica Story)
5 e-book copies of Jungle Heat by Sarah Mäkelä
2 audiobook copies of Eternal Ever After by A.C. James
2 audiobook copies of Cold Moon Rising by Sarah Mäkelä

Embed Code for Rafflecopter Giveaway:

Please list this link if you’re unable to embed the code:

Eternal Ever After – Book 1:

His past holds a secret that becomes her nightmare.

Arie Cush has a secret that he thought he'd left behind. When his past follows him to Chicago he must protect someone that reminds him of all the painful memories he's tried so hard to forget. But when every touch from her sets his heart and body on fire--he finds it hard to maintain his aloof façade.

Holly Ellis has secrets of her own. An encounter with the handsome stranger who frequents her coffee shop reveals a vampire with baggage. Even though it might be more than she bargained for, she can't resist the one person who understands her. But her life is in danger and a supernatural threat could reveal the underground world of vampires to humankind in this Gothic Cinderella re-telling.

Fallen Ever After – Book 2:

He can’t lose her when danger strikes again.

Arie Cush wanted Holly from the very first moment he met her. A night at the Hellfire Club (HFC) is filled with old friends and new danger. The long-standing feud between the faeries that run the Chicago Crew and a lethal toxin puts Holly and other fledgling vampires in danger. Can they stop a vampire-fae war that’s been brewing for nearly a century?

Beyond Ever After – Book 3:

The half-demon unleashed a force that can tear them apart.

On the night, Daeveena, a half-fey, half-demon walked out of the Hellfire Club, she left a tide of destruction, but everyone figured that was the end of it. No one imagined that she would steal something so valuable. Can Arie discover who is harboring her before he loses everything?

As a special BONUS readers get Winter Promises: An Ever After Christmas Story that takes place between book one and book two!
The Witch Who Cried Wolf – Book 1
New Adult Paranormal Romance

Be careful what you wish for…

A potion gone wrong: Mia Brooks is a reluctant witch, with powers that she tries to hold in check. But when her magic gets mixed up, supernatural forces are unleashed and suddenly she’s being pursued by werewolves—that she didn’t even realize existed…

Hidden emotions: Ethan Parker, Mia’s brother’s best friend, is home from deployment for the holidays. Mia’s not only hiding from werewolves, she’s trying to keep her feelings for Ethan secret; it would be a disaster if he knew she’s been nursing a long-time crush…

The power of love: things take a terrifying turn when Mia and Ethan are attacked by a werewolf. Ethan is amazed when Mia reveals her paranormal prowess as she tries to shield them from danger. But can she really protect them from the darkness that lurks? And how can he tell her that, for ages, he’s been denying what he really wants? Mia...

Cold Moon Rising – Book 2
New Adult Paranormal Romance

Passions flare when the cold moon rises…

Kelly: a normal college girl, who knows what she wants—to survive her final exams, and find someone to share her life with. Studying with Jacob is becoming too hot to handle; she’s falling for him, but he’s going too fast…

Jacob: a not-so-typical frat guy, who hides a secret—he’s a werewolf. Whenever the moon is high, he’s driven to shed his human form and satisfy his powerful desires. He craves Kelly, but she’s pushing him away…

Fallout: Jacob can smell Kelly’s arousal, but she insists she doesn’t want sex. A wolf can only take so much before his natural instincts win out. When the tension between them explodes, Jacob has no choice but to walk…

Kidnapped! Kelly is abducted by evil scientists who’ve mistaken her for a female werecat and, despite their differences, Jacob has to try and find her. But it’s a race against time and the lunar tides. The scientists have taken Kelly to their lab and turned her into a shapeshifter for real. The full moon is rising, and soon neither Kelly nor Jacob will be able to control their inner beasts. Who knows what the consequences will be when they are consumed by unquenchable animal lust…

The Wolf Who Played With Fire – Book 3

Some magic can’t be unspun…

Meddling in magic…
If Mia Brooks could turn back time, it would be to when she used her fledgling magic to craft a potion for an injured werewolf. It nearly killed the Pack Alpha, and now the lives of her witch mentor, Jessa, and her soldier boyfriend, Ethan Parker, have been changed forever. Jessa is in hospital after a vicious werewolf attack. And, Ethan, having being bitten, is becoming a werewolf himself.

A wolf at the door…
Mia can’t turn back time, but she can try to make things right with the two people she cares about most. She’s keeping Jessa’s shop, Eternally Magick, open, and she’s there for Ethan as his inner wolf grows. But, by the next full moon, his transformation will be complete. Can she really be the mate of a half-man-half-wolf, living within the law of the Pack?

Under his spell…
Struggling to contain his new lupine senses, Ethan goes missing on active duty. When Mia realizes her werewolf lover has been abducted, she knows must harness every magic power she possesses to get him safely back…

About the Authors

A.C. James

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author A.C. James writes paranormal romance and erotica, includingEternal Ever After which was featured in the bestselling Spice Box anthology. She pounds out sexy scenes at her keyboard where romance is laced with horror in hot stories of vampires and bad boy werewolves. Her stories feature strong heroines and alpha heroes, with plenty of action, twists, and turns that will keep you turning pages.

A.C. resides in northeast Pennsylvania where she entertains her husband with her imaginative yarns and quirky sense of humor. She spends her time drinking large vats of coffee while taming two toddlers by day and writing by night. Recovering video game beta tester and tech geek who grew-up going to cons and watching SmackDown. There’s probably some cosplay pictures around somewhere of her dressed up as Bloodberry from Saber Marionette J. Just don’t tell anyone.

Connect With A.C.


Sarah Mäkelä

Sarah Mäkelä loves her fiction dark, magical, and passionate. She is a paranormal romance author, but she's written all over the romance spectrum with cyberpunk, sci-fi, fantasy, urban fantasy...even a sweet contemporary romance!

A life-long paranormal fan, she still sleeps with a night light. In her spare time, she reads sexy books, watches scary movies (and Ghost Adventures), and plays computer games with her husband. When she gets the chance, she loves traveling the world too.

Connect With Sarah



Ever After Series: Amazon ~ B&N ~ GooglePlay ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ ARe

Cry Wolf Series: Amazon ~ B&N ~ GooglePlay ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ ARe









Thursday, January 20, 2011

New Adventures & New Digs


Harry Houdini

New Adventure? I'm not as adventurous as Harry Houdini but I've been busy with an exciting new project for Ellora's Cave and that's why I’ve been behind on blogging. It's a new adventure because this story is a little different from my usual work. There's still passion and adventure, and I think you'll fall in love with the characters. It was a fun and challenging story to write. If accepted, this book will be part of the 1-800-DOM-help author series. http://1800domhelp.blogspot.com Keep your fingers crossed. I’ll keep you posted.


1 800 DOM helpThe premise of the stories of this series involves the mysterious appearance of a business card with the text: ‘1-800-DOM-help’ written on the card. The card will appear to someone—a Dom/Domme or sub who is in need of a special kind of help in his or her D/s relationship. Upon calling the number an Operator will assist them and may guide them to a club called Unfettered.

That’s the basics for the world building, except for a few common characters. It’s amazing to see the creativity of the authors in coming up with a variety of erotic BDSM themes to fit. The locations are different and there are MM, MMF, and MF stories so far. They also contain both male and female Dominants and submissives. The stories are hot, edgy and emotionally satisfying reads.

Althought I do have elements of BDSM in some of my published stories, for this one, I needed to do a lot more research to better understand the lifestyle and dynamics of a D/s relationship. EC authors are great sources for research. I read a number of their books and got recommendations for non-fiction books and also checked out the BDSM and fetish communities on-line. Of course, my interpretation may not be someone else’s interpretation, especially someone who’s a part of that lifestyle. And it’s a fantasy, it’s fiction. The true test will be what the readers think. If it flies, and the readers (and my editor) likes it, I have a couple more ideas in the same setting.

The next question is, while I finish editing this book to send off to my editor, which book do I start working on next? I’m in the middle of two projects a demon book (the third in my Demons in Exile series) and a vampire book. Any preferences???


My new digs?: Is actually a new desk. I have a new writer’s cave!! YAY! For Christmas I received a new desk with credenza, hutch, L-shaped table, filing cabinet, corner table and wall unit (bookcase). The wood stain matches the hardwood floors and wood trim in the spare bedroom. I have three big windows to look out of and the best part is my dining room gets turned back into a dining room. I’ve been using it as my office for seven years. What do you think?




Okay, so Demon book next? Or Vampire book?

CONTEST REMINDER: Don't forget to check out the post on January 9th for details on how to win a copy of Secret Soiree or a surprise print book. Leave a comment and include your email or send me your email and I'll add you in the drawing on Valentine's Day. Details on my website too. http://www.kathykulig.com/

Monday, January 4, 2010

SHAPESHIFTERS, DEMONS and VORTEXES



My novel DAMNED AND DESIRED releasing on Wednesday 01/06/10 at Ellora’s Cave has demons and shapeshifters and an alternative universe. I did some interesting research for this book including quantum physics, the vortexes of Sedona, Arizona, and Native American mysticism.

Quantum physics is science, mostly. The theory of vortexes is usually considered supernatural phenomenon. But both talk about earth’s forces of electricity, magnetism and electromagnetism. Vortexes are said to be spiraling sources of energy. These energies can be electrical, magnetic or electromagnetic. Sedona has a large concentration of vortexes using a variety of these three energies. Other locations where vortexes are said to be found include: the Persian Gulf, Mount Calvary, Bermuda Triangle, Ayers Rock in Australia, Devil’s Tower in Wyoming and Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, England. There are others.






Cairns at the Cathedral vortex

So what are these vortexes suppose to do? I’m not exactly sure. I asked a number of people when I visited Sedona and never got a straight answer. They pretty much said you have to experience them for yourself. Hmmm. I’ve read a couple books on the subject and I’m still perplexed. Some people swear they can sense or see the energies. One book said they can expand your consciousness, have healing capabilities, are entrances to other dimensions, and sightings for UFOs.

My Dh and I hiked around several of these vortexes. One, Cathedral Rock, is a gorgeous site. Can’t say I felt any energy. But we met some interesting and nice people along the way.


Below Cathedral Rock

Anyway, I found the mystical setting and the beautiful scenery the perfect setting for my series Demons in Exile. The material I read in quantum physics(tiny amount) and information on vortexes sparked ideas for my novel. Here’s another excerpt from my new release DAMNED AND DESIRED:

EXCERPT:
Aiming the flashlight around the area, he looked for tracks, footprints—human or animal. He saw both. “They were here.”
“Seen enough?” she asked.
He looked toward another group of rocks. “Let’s check that out.”
“No!”
“Why?”
“This place doesn’t feel right.”
He didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable or scared but his instincts told him there was something here that needed to be investigated.
“Sakari, what aren’t you telling me?”
She didn’t answer.
“All right. I’m telling you. There’s nothing for you to worry about. I need to change one more time and then I promise we’ll go.”
“Brad, no! It’s not safe.”
Brad threw the pelt over his shoulders defiantly and immediately shifted into the leopard. Something was here and he was going to find out what if she wouldn’t tell him. In animal form, he felt that magnetic pull like he had before. With his senses more keen to the environment, his hackles stood out sensing danger. Could it be an electrical storm in the area? He glanced up at the night sky and saw brilliant stars. Not tonight.
Then he heard a scream and smelled the animal before he heard the yip and snarl of another predator.
Coyote.
Spinning around, he crouched in position ready to lunge at his attacker. Coyote leapt onto him with more forced than he’d expect from a skinny animal. The leopard had to out weigh him by eighty pounds or so.
Claws dug into his shoulders and teeth dug into his foreleg. He yelped in pain then rolled and let his weight force Coyote to release him. He knocked the coyote down with his wide paws. Powerful teeth clamped onto the coyote’s back, but the sly creature wrenched free and pinned him on the ground. jaws tight around his throat. In any moment, his throat would be ripped out.
Brad slipped out of his leopard form and felt the teeth of the Coyote at his throat. Son of a bitch.
“Stop it, Dante!”
Coyote was caught off guard and released his grip, gazing down at him. Brad focused and managed to shift again. With his hind legs, the leopard maneuvered in a position and again rolled on top of Coyote. His assailant was powerful and strong but the leopard had muscle and weight on his side.
“Stop it, now! Both of you!” Sakari cried.
Then the leopard sensed another predator. While he had Coyote pinned on the ground, he heard a shriek and saw the flash of wings. He looked up.
A falcon swooped down, talons extended and knocked him off Coyote.
Scrambling to his feet, Coyote prepared to attack the leopard and as he leapt in the air to do so, the falcon swooped down again and clipped Coyote on the ear with its sharp talons. He yipped and rolled away. The leopard started to attack Coyote, then saw the futility of it as the falcon swiftly circled and aimed for him. He backed off.
Both Coyote and the leopard kept their distance to avoid further attacks by the third adversary and occasionally glanced at the falcon overhead. Finally, the falcon landed between them and Sakari appeared, naked and beautiful, her chest heaving as she attempted to catch her breath. She glared at them with a deep frown as if daring them to start fighting again.
“Are you two finished with your pissing contest?”

DAMNED AND DESIRED by Kathy Kulig
Release date: 01/06/10 at Ellora’s Cave
ISBN: 978 14199 24699
http://www.jasminejade.com/
http://www.kathykulig.com/